operar Preterite Conjugation
operar — to perform surgery
The preterite of 'operar' is regular: operé, operaste, operó, operamos, operasteis, operaron.
operar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for completed actions of operating that happened at a specific point in the past. For example, 'El cirujano operó al paciente ayer' (The surgeon operated on the patient yesterday) or 'Operamos el corazón del niño la semana pasada' (We operated on the child's heart last week).
Notes on operar in the Preterite
Operar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern in the preterite tense. No stem changes or spelling alterations occur.
Example Sentences
Yo operé al paciente anoche.
I operated on the patient last night.
yo
¿Tú operaste el tumor?
Did you operate on the tumor?
tú
Ella operó con éxito.
She operated successfully.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros operamos el apéndice.
We operated on the appendix.
nosotros
Ellos operaron al mediodía.
They operated at noon.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect tense instead of the preterite for a single, completed surgery.
Correct: For a specific surgery that started and finished, use the preterite: 'El cirujano operó'. Use the imperfect ('operaba') for habitual or ongoing past surgeries.
Why: The preterite marks a completed event, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms ('opere' instead of 'operé' or 'operó').
Correct: Remember the accents: 'operé' (yo) and 'operó' (él/ella/usted).
Why: These accents are crucial for distinguishing the preterite forms and indicating stress.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: opero
The present tense of 'operar' (opero) is used for actions happening now, habitual surgeries, or general truths.
Imperfect
yo: operaba
The imperfect of 'operar' (operaba) describes habitual or ongoing past surgeries, or sets the scene.
Future
yo: operaré
The future tense of 'operar' (operaré) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: operaría
The conditional of 'operar' (operaría) expresses hypothetical actions ('would operate') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: opere
The present subjunctive of 'operar' (opere) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: operara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'operar' (operara/operase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: opera
Use the imperative of operar for direct commands: opera, operemos, operen, operad.
Negative Imperative
yo: no operes
Negative commands for 'operar' use the present subjunctive: no operes, no operemos, no operen, no operéis.